You have a business to run. It is hard to stay on top of things locally let alone at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) where your electric rates are set. That’s where the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin comes in. We advocate for all small utility customers from individual citizens to small businesses and farmers for fair, safe and reliable utility service. We monitor the changing energy world and put the utility customer first.
CUB small business members benefit from our team of legislative, utility and communications experts who advocate tirelessly for your business at the Public Service Commission, the state Capitol, in the courts, and at regulatory agencies.
Small Business Membership Benefits:
Advocacy: CUB business membership keeps you up-to-date on issues that matter to you.
- Monthly electronic newsletters highlighting key cases before the PSC, issues before the Legislature, and information to help you control energy costs.
- Action Alerts keep you notified and enable you to get involved, when important decisions are up for hearing/vote.
- CUB works as Your Independent Consumer Voice at the table for small business interests when the PSC sets rates and energy policy.
Empowerment: CUB will help you take action and share your thoughts with Wisconsin government officials.
- Confused by your bill? We can explain it.
- Problem with your utility service and pricing? We will answer questions and help you work with your utility.
- Who makes these decisions anyway? We will show your staff how to interact with the PSC and legislators
Access: CUB can help your organization and employees save resources and money.
- Host a “utility bill clinic” about ways to help residents and businesses save money on their utility bills.
- Promote your support of fair, safe and reliable utility rates with the CUB small business member badge.
Outreach: CUB will help small business members partner with other members and like-minded organizations to bring these issues to the public. CUB staff can answer questions about energy related matters as well as provide free one-on-one utility bill consultations.
Partnership Opportunities: CUB partners with community groups interested in learning about utility issues. We provide presentations on how to understand your utility bills, how the PSC works and how you can get involved. Plus, we can provide information on energy costs you can control. Let us know what you’re interested in, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
December 1, 2011: CUB Helped Save MGE Customers More Than $14 Million
Posted: December 1, 2011 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: December 1, 2011
CUB Helped Save MGE Customers More Than $14 Million
MADISON – The Public Service Commission today approved new electric and natural gas rates for Madison Gas & Electric Company, which will take effect on January 1, 2012. The Citizens Utility Board participated in the case, and made suggestions that reduced the rate increase by more than $14 million.
MGE had sought an increase in electric rates for 2012 of $35.0 million, or 9.7 percent; and an increase in the rates for the delivery of natural gas of $838,000 or 0.4 percent (the natural gas itself is purchased by the utility in open markets and the cost is passed onto customers). The PSC approved an increase in electric rates of about $15 million, or 4 percent, and the PSC approved the increase in gas delivery costs.
As part of its request to increase electric rates, MGE sought $14.5 million to pay for complying with the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, a new air pollution regulation issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that takes effect in January 2012. The regulation requires utilities to reduce emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which cause acid rain and smog, and damage human health and the environment.
CUB and other parties urged the PSC not to increase electric rates for compliance with the air pollution rule, but rather to require MGE to track the costs of complying with the rule, and to recover these costs from ratepayers in the future. The PSC agreed with CUB, which resulted in a savings of $14.5 million.
Though all customers will see an increase in electric rates, the PSC decided to raise the rates for residential and commercial customers in order to pay for a discount to Airgas Merchant Gases, an industrial customer of MGE that distributes industrial, medical, and specialty gases. CUB is disappointed in this decision, because it will force residential and small commercial customers to subsidize rates for Airgas.
“The PSC made some good decisions but also some bad ones regarding electric rates for MGE customers,” said Charlie Higley, CUB executive director. “The PSC appropriately reduced rates regarding compliance with air pollution rules, but made a mistake in forcing residential customers to pay for discounted rates to Airgas. All customers are hurting in this economy, and it’s simply unfair to force small customers to pay higher rates to provide subsidies to large customers.”
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Category: Press Releases Tags: MGE